A smart drive from Nathan Williamson enabled Franco Santino to hand Southland sensation U May Cullect his first defeat at Winton yesterday.
Williamson seized the opportunity to win the feature by making full use of the handicap advantage Franco Santino had over the favourite by taking the pacer he trains to the lead at the 1000m.
That gave Franco Santino, who started from 20m, a massive lead on the 50m backmarker and it proved too much ground for U May Cullect to make up in the straight.
Franco Santino went on to score by one and a-quarter lengths over Robyns Playboy.
U May Cullect made up a huge amount of ground in the final 800m of the 2400m handicap to snatch third from Sagwitch. U May Cullect was privately timed to run his last 800m in a sizzling 53.3sec.
The first four placegetters, who are nominated for the New Zealand Cup, are likely to square off again in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru later this month.
Williamson scored a driving double in yesterday's feature pace and feature trot when he guided Picketts Ridge to a returning win.
The John Ryan-trained 6yr-old produced a massive performance in his first start since November to win smartly in his return from injury.
Picketts Ridge was sent to the paddock after it was revealed he had suffered an injury after trotting roughly in his last start at Ascot Park.
“The last run he won he trotted terribly, but when it came to the last 400m he forgot about it and he still won,” Ryan said.
The horse’s rough action was found to be due to the recurrence of an injury that had previously bothered the horse.
“He had a bad injury before I got him, it was always something I had kept an eye on.”
“He got a bump on his back leg when he was younger.”
“It still doesn’t look right – but it doesn’t seem to be worrying him now.”
Ryan tried a range of cures to keep his trotter in training, late last year, but they were ineffective.
It was mother nature that eventually helped Picketts Ridge get back to full soundness.
“We tried all kinds of different treatments and in the end we left him out on a big hill for six months,” Ryan said.
Picketts Ridge sustained his injury during a time when he was far from the complete trotter.
The former bad boy got away from his drivers in training and caused headaches for those working with him as a younger horse.
Picketts Ridge did not look at all like a former rogue when he trotted powerfully to the line yesterday.
“He went away like a proper racehorse” Ryan said.
“Nathan said he felt a lot more professional, he was very happy with him and the way he trotted.”
Yesterday's meeting provided a milestone for Tapanui trainer John Stiven, who scored his first win with Countess Of Arden.
Stiven, better known as a breeder and seller at the national yearling sales, claimed the win when his 4yr-old got her nose in front of Betterthanspraying in the last 50m.
